Interview with Albert, Borata, Keith, Jon, Innocent17, Acer and Taz
JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't. Albert: AT FIRST YES, AND AFTER NO. Borata: no, by my lonesome chained to the metal bench,
across the phone booth, no food, no water, no
toilet and I was on my rag. would not even let
me change my pad and I was leaking all over my
white jeans.
Keith: No. Jon: I kept to myself for the most part, which was
fairly easy to do. Any conversation I had was to
answer a question like "why are you here", etc. I
found that you will rarely encounter trouble if
you keep to yourself and engage very little with
anyone even the guards. Innocent17: Since I'm a fairly big guy and I'm an English
Speaking Hispanic, I found a wide acceptance
within the dorm. I got along fine with other like
me, the "paisas" the non english speaking
hispanics and the whites AKA the "woods".
The only thing that made things difficult were the
STUPID rules.
No showering with the blacks
ALWAYS ALWAYS have your shoes on while on the floor.
No fraternizing with the blacks anywhere near your
bed.
No sleeping more than 3 hrs during the day Acer: Not really everyone was cool n respectful n just did their
time. Stick wit your people and it'll b alright . Most of the
fighting was the blacks fighting each other .it was hard to get
along with them because they fight in plain sight and get the
dorm slammed down n they stink n are loud and don't
shower or program at all. Taz: Yes, an attempt was made on my life because I talked
to much about my case.
JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates? Albert: STAY ON YOUR TOES AND DON'T GET TO COMFORTABLE. Borata: nothing!!! I was trying to fight or talk to
everyone just to get attention but no one even
wanted to talk to me except for the 3 inmates in
the cell to the right of mine. Keith: Mind your own business and be respectful of
everyone else, and you are ok. Jon: The least information anyone has about you the
better, I think. I was challenged once and I just
held my ground in a confident and non-aggressive
way, and the situation dissolved quickly. Innocent17: Play these STUPID punching games with the dorm
bullfag and punch him back HARD.
NOT FLINCH no matter what.
SHARE with MY RACE.
Be social, even when I didn't feel up to it.
Pick on the "bitch".
Acer: Politics follow them . Be respectful . Always say excuse me .
Don't let nobody take advantage of u or punk u. Only fight I.
Got in was my 13 second discipline by the big homys kuz I
made a mistake Taz: Kept more to myself had a few select friends but
never talked at length about my case with them.
JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change? Albert: NO. Borata: God!
Keith: No. Jon: This question is unclear. Innocent17: No. Acer: Hell no .. depends Taz: No I was not able to choose a cellmate. I was moved
to an area where I had my own cell after the attempt
on my life. While there the officers woul dtransfer
out people once in awhile to main line to make room
for new people. I ended up getting a keep away
status so I could not be moved.